2 Kings 25:13

And the pillars of brass that [were] in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that [was] in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

And the pillars {H5982} of brass {H5178} that were in the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, and the bases {H4350}, and the brasen {H5178} sea {H3220} that was in the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, did the Chaldees {H3778} break in pieces {H7665}, and carried {H5375} the brass {H5178} of them to Babylon {H894}.

The Kasdim smashed the bronze columns in the house of ADONAI, also the trolleys and bronze Sea that were in the house of ADONAI, and carried their bronze to Bavel.

Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried the bronze to Babylon.

And the pillars of brass that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Jehovah, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

Commentary

2 Kings 25:13 describes a pivotal moment in the history of ancient Israel: the systematic dismantling and plundering of the sacred items from Solomon's Temple by the invading Babylonian forces. This verse specifically mentions the "pillars of brass," the "bases," and the "brasen sea," all significant components of the Temple's grandeur and functionality.

Context

This verse is situated within the tragic narrative of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the First Temple. After a prolonged siege, the Babylonian army, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, finally breached the city walls. Following the capture of King Zedekiah and the general population's exile, the Babylonians turned their attention to the Temple, Jerusalem's most significant structure. This act of desecration and looting marked the complete subjugation of Judah and the beginning of the seventy-year Babylonian exile, a period of profound national and spiritual crisis for the Jewish people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The destruction of the Temple and the plundering of its sacred vessels were not merely acts of war but a stark testament to God's judgment against Judah's persistent idolatry, covenant unfaithfulness, and rejection of His prophets. The Temple, though built for God's presence, did not exempt the people from the consequences of their sin.
  • Desecration and Loss: The items mentioned—the "pillars of brass" (referring to Jachin and Boaz, significant architectural and symbolic features of Solomon's Temple) and the "brasen sea" (a massive bronze basin for priestly ablutions, as described in 1 Kings 7:23)—represented the glory and holiness of the Temple. Their breaking and removal symbolized the complete loss of national sovereignty, religious independence, and the perceived abandonment of God's dwelling place.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This devastating event was the fulfillment of numerous prophecies made by God through His prophets, such as Jeremiah and Micah, who warned of Jerusalem's destruction and the Temple's desolation if the people did not repent.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "Chaldees" is another name for the Babylonians, an ancient Semitic people who inhabited southern Mesopotamia and established the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
  • The "pillars of brass" were named Jachin and Boaz, significant not just for their material but for their symbolic representation of establishment and strength for the kingdom.
  • The "brasen sea" was a monumental bronze laver, reflecting the grandeur of the Temple and its provisions for ceremonial purity.

Practical Application

This historical account serves as a profound reminder of several enduring truths:

  1. Consequences of Disobedience: God is faithful to His covenant, both in blessing and in judgment. Persistent rebellion against divine commands leads to severe consequences, as seen in the curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28.
  2. God's Sovereignty: Even in moments of national catastrophe and the apparent triumph of enemies, God remains sovereign. The Chaldeans were merely instruments in His hand to execute judgment.
  3. Spiritual vs. Physical: While the physical Temple was destroyed, God's presence and covenant promises were not ultimately bound to a physical structure. The exile served to purify the remnant and prepare them for a deeper, more spiritual relationship with God, leading eventually to the promise of a new covenant.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 36:18 (4 votes)

    And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all [these] he brought to Babylon.

  • 1 Kings 7:15 (3 votes)

    For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.

  • Lamentations 1:10 (3 votes)

    The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen [that] the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command [that] they should not enter into thy congregation.

  • Jeremiah 52:17 (3 votes)

    Also the pillars of brass that [were] in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that [was] in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans brake, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.

  • Jeremiah 52:20 (3 votes)

    The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brasen bulls that [were] under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the LORD: the brass of all these vessels was without weight.

  • 2 Kings 20:17 (3 votes)

    Behold, the days come, that all that [is] in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

  • 2 Chronicles 4:2 (2 votes)

    Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.